Another notable thing is that Harwich is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Harwich’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.
Harwich is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Harwich’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.
It is a fairly quiet town because there are relatively few of those groups of people who have a tendency to be noisy. (Children, for example, often can't help themselves from being noisy, and being parents ourselves, we know!) Harwich has relatively few families with children living at home, and is quieter because of it. Renters and college students, for their own reasons, can also be noisy. Harwich has few renters and college students. But the biggest reason it is quieter in Harwich than in most places in America, is that there are just simply fewer people living here. If you think trees make good neighbors, Harwich may be for you.
Harwich is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.
As is often the case in a small town, Harwich doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.
The education level of Harwich ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Harwich, 45.83% have at least a bachelor's degree. The typical US community has just 21.84% of its adults holding a bachelor's degree or graduate degree.
The per capita income in Harwich in 2018 was $54,092, which is middle income relative to Massachusetts, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $216,368 for a family of four. However, Harwich contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.
The people who call Harwich home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Harwich residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Harwich include Irish, English, Swedish, German, and Italian.
The most common language spoken in Harwich is English. Other important languages spoken here include Chinese and French.
